Bruce, my Dear Friend...yes, the right words are hard to come by. The photo you've published says everything that's needed & not a single word has been spoken. Much Love to You Both, Nigel & Ann. xxxxxxxxx

so sorry to hear that Jane has more worries, will hold her in my prayers and hope this is just another hic cup and nothing serious.

Wish I lived a little closer, could have had a hot meal ready for you on your return and filled the larder!We will get together in the spring and hopefully have news of a good new year for everyone on this thread who has had health scares.

Apologies for my absence. Ann & I have been away looking after two of our Grandchildren whilst Jane was taking a short break, prior to a biopsy at the end of this week. A lump has appeared on her lower back & for the first time since her initial diagnosis, she needs pain killers. The biopsy is not the problem (non-invasive ultrasound), it's the outcome that is weighing heavily on all our minds. Dean & Spaw, I've neglected you both...that bothers me; I'm sorry. But enormous thanks to all the other Rainbow Crew members who have rallied round...you are irreplaceable. We've just returned home; the larder is bare; we need to get to the shops pronto! I'll post again soon, With Much Love & Healing Thoughts, Nigel & Ann. xxxxxxxxxx

My wife also had a bone marrow biopsy just a few days ago. She has tended to anemia for a long time, and has been testing a bit more so. We'll see the doc for results a couple of daya after we get home.

Most of my post from above seems to be missing but its on the Catspaw thread as well so I'll transfer it back here. I put it in here first because this thread has been so important to many of us....

Regarding this thread and the anemia/breathing problem.................I had a bone marrow biopsy two weeks ago to see if there was a reason there for this anemia which is causing the breathing problem. As it turns out, there is!

I have some lazy-ass bone marrow which ain't keeping up with the needed supply. Mostly all the things we associate with Leukemia. At this point it ain't. The condition is called Myeloplastic Dysplasia Syndrome. The good news is that it is a pre-cancerous diagnosis and may or may not become Leukemia at some point in the future. The lesser news is that if it does it is a type that does not respond well to most of the known treatments.

We are starting weekly injections to stimulate the marrow which obviously needs a swift kick in the ass. We'll see how that goes first and move on from there. My hemoglobin and platelets are better than they were but still very low. I'm breathing better and doing better overall but I look forward to hopefully boost my red blood cell output with the shots. It will probably take awhile to see/feel the effect of those. Hopefully there will be some!!!

Biggest problem right now is the trip to Columbus (100 mile round trip) which will be weekly. My back has been bothering me since that 2 month stint in the hospital a couple of years back following the botched appendectomy. The trip gets uncomfortable for me plus it is another 100 miles on the car and the gas. So I need to get some more info then talk to the insurance folks about a closer location for the shots or home health care to do them.

More importantly, I wish my friends (both those I know and those I don't) posting to this thread are able to feel the love and embraces so freely offered and lovingly given by those who understand what they are going through. In the parlance, hang tough. Understand, when you hurt for those you love, we hurt for you.

Pete, very pleased to hear the good news about Tommy (One of our Grandsons is named Thomas, which frequently morphs into Tommy, especially if Ann is around!) There won't be much in the way of updates regarding Jane for a few days; maybe even a week or two. The new medication takes a while to establish itself & then her Doctors can begin scanning again. Whilst Ann & I retain our trust in Jane's Doctors to create an appropriate treatment plan for her, it is noticeable how weary & worn we are all getting. The effort required to 'keep on, keeping on' doesn't get any easier. The spectre of cancer is always there, hovering in the shadows. Much Love to All of You, our Very Dear & Special Friends, Nigel & Ann. xxxxxxxxxx

" Mixed bag" Optimism and hope sounds good Nigel.Hope that the Oncologist finds the rogue gene and this new medication is successful. I admire Jane's positive way of living with the cancer so much, she is indeed inspirational to us all,

Billy is on the last day of cycle five today and is working as usual,he has a very positive attitude and fingers crossed the trial he is on has very good chamces of remission.I must say how lucky we are in the care of our loved ones, the staff of our hospitals should be praised for their dedication and sympathetic reassurance. How far cancer treatments have come in the last 20 years!

At the begining of this year, when you started this thread, we were strangers, the year has been full of ups and downs, good news and set backs, now the year is drawing to a close and I have new friends to share worries and highs with, once again "Thank you" Nigel for bringing us all together.

Jane's PET scan results have turned out to be something of a mixed bag. The increase in 'activity' in her hip bones is confirmed, but the Doctors profess to be "Not overly concerned". Her current medication has been stopped & a new drug instigated immediately. The Oncologist is exploring the possibility of a 'rogue gene' being the initial cause of the cancer. If this turns out to be true, then Jane becomes an ideal patient for the new medication by virtue of her age, overall level of fitness & the fact that she has never smoked. The Doctors report an encouraging level of success with the new drug given the criteria I've just outlined. Jane remains very positive about her situation. She is determined that the cancer will not rule her life...she is living with it, not dying from it. We live in the hope that a 'rogue gene' will indeed be found. The results of that investigation won't be available just yet. There is a certain sense of optimism & hope within our Family that feels different from simply 'clutching at straws'. Holding all of You in our thoughts as You hold us, With Love, Nigel & Ann. xxxxxxxxxx

Haven't looked in for a few weeks, caught up in what amount to petty concerns. The posts from the last three weeks give renewed perspective and lead me to better appreciation of just how petty many concerns in my own life that seem major from a small and short perspective really are.

To Nigel & Family, Wendy & Billybob, 'Spaw & Karen, and others I have surely missed naming in this hasty post: Even as I join my focused care and concern for you with that of others, I am also grateful for the gift of your sharing.

Spaw... my fingers are crossed for you. Hmmm... there won't be any discomfort... I have fingers like a baby.

Explanation : my doc is from La Belle Province and he often says things translated from Quebec French that are lost on anyone who don't parlez... even those that talk Acadian French (and Shaques - local... VERY local). Gee, I still don't think I explained it, but I did laugh before he shoved his

That's an important point Nigel. I too am blessed with a best friend for a spouse. It is almost unimagineable that I would do anything of any sort without her. Even when either of us is at the doctor, the other is in the exam room most of the time. Our Docs don't mind and I don't think I'd go to any doctor who did.

Speaking of which, they did the bone marrow today and that wasn't too bad.....except for two periods of about 3 seconds each and one other of about 5 seconds that was a major "WHOA!!!" Serious discomfort but so short it really isn't a big deal unless you're some sort of wimp......like me. LOL.....Results in a few weeks.